Our Team

Jennifer Nations

Managing Director

Projects: California HIV/AIDS Research Program HIV Study, Homelessness Services Ecosystem Evaluation, Lucky Duck Foundation, Price Philanthropies Transit Pass Evaluation, Single-Room Occupancies, Spatial Analysis of Unsheltered Homelessness, Transportation-Housing Affordability Nexus, GIS/Data Team

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Leslie R. Lewis

Director of Education and Community Engagement

Projects: HEAL, HEART Fellowship, Homelessness Services Ecosystem Evaluation (Older Adults Case Study), Humble Design,  Safe Parking, The Poverty Project

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Mirle Rabinowitz-Bussell

Faculty Director 

Projects: Homelessness Services Ecosystem Evaluation (Veterans Case Study), Humble Design, Safe Parking, Transportation-Housing Affordability Nexus, Urban Land Institute Project

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Julie Wartell

GIS Manager

Projects: Lucky Duck Foundation, Price Philanthropies Transit Pass Evaluation, Spatial Analysis of Unsheltered Homelessness, GIS/Data Team

Stacey Livingstone

Postdoctoral Fellow

Projects: California HIV/AIDS Research Program HIV Study, Homelessness Services Ecosystem Evaluation (Justice-Involved/Substance Use Disorder Case Study), Humble Design, Safe Parking, Single-Room Occupancies 

Gloria Magallanes

Research and Policy Analyst

Projects: Homelessness Services Ecosystem Evaluation (Domestic Violence Case Study) 

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Michael Yang

Staff Research Associate 

Projects: Homelessness Services Ecosystem Evaluation (Government and Policy), Lucky Duck Foundation, GIS/Data Team

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Samantha Lee

Undergraduate Researcher

Projects: Homelessness Services Ecosystem Evaluation (Government and Policy), GIS/Data Team

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Aya Jaffer

Undergraduate Researcher

Projects: Safe Parking, HMIS Report, GIS/Data Team

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Sofiia Iakobi

Undergraduate Researcher

Projects: Affordable Hosuing Layer, GIS/Data Team

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Oscar Leija

Undergraduate Researcher

Projects: Secondary Analysis of Unsheltered Individuals and Institutional Isolation, Safe Sleeping Evaluation

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Nicolas Palacio

Undergraduate Researcher

Projects: Safe Sleeping Evaluation, GIS/Data Team

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Isaiah Davis

Undergraduate Researcher

Projects: Homelessness Services Ecosystem Evaluation (Justice-Involved/Substance Use Disorder Case Study), Single-Room Occupancies

Kieran Stanko

Undergraduate Researcher

Projects: Single-Room Occupancies, GIS/Data Team

Jenna Rose

HEART Fellow

Jenna is a HEART Fellow with UC San Diego’s Homelessness Hub and a full-time Peer Support Specialist at the San Diego LGBT Community Center, where she supports transition-age youth navigating housing instability, employment barriers, and the complicated systems that often stand between young people and stability. She is currently pursuing her Master of Public Administration at National University, specializing in Leadership and Teams in the 21st Century, and has earned Dean’s List distinction ahead of her anticipated August 2026 graduation. As a formerly unhoused queer young person, Jenna brings lived experience, empathy, and real-world understanding to her work with youth. Her work is shaped by housing and affordability advocacy, LGBTQ+ and trans rights, and a commitment to building systems where young people can access the support, income, housing, and affirmation they need to thrive.